A new, unique 5K race event is coming to Fort Wayne this weekend. Healthier Moms and Babies is hosting the Diaper Dash 5K Run/Walk to raise awareness of its mission and to help collect diapers for their clients. The event is family-friendly and participants are encouraged dress up in a diaper, baby costume or other baby or childhood related costumes. Gender-specific, commemorative t-shirts will be available for participants. The race will be timed. Fleet Feet Sports has donated $50 gift cards for the top male/female finishers and top male/female masters. Trophies will also be given to the first in class both male/female winners. Awards will be given to the best individual and group best costume. The mission of Healthier Moms and Babies is to improve birth outcomes in Allen County by providing prenatal health education through in-home case management. It has a multi-disciplinary staff of nurses and social workers that provide services to high-risk pregnant women. Donated diapers are used as incentives for their clients to keep appointments and meet other goals related to their case. For more details and a link to register, please go to their website. When: Saturday, September 24th 2016 7:30-8:10 am: Check-in and late registration (shirt not guaranteed for late registration) 8:30 am: Run will begin; walk will start immediately following 9:30 am: Awards Where Foster Park, Pavilion #1 3900 Old Mill Road Fort Wayne, IN US 46807 Registration Registration is $35 after August 24th Kids registration is $25 for registration after August 24th – commemorative t-shirt included. Diapers and wipes are also requested for donation with the registration fee. Packet pick up is from 4 pm – 7 pm on Friday, September 27th at Fleet Feet Sports, 5661 Coventry Lane, Ft. Wayne, IN 46804. Participants are able to register online or during packet pick-up or the day of the race. Website...

Runners have all kinds of tricks for getting motivated. For starters, it helps to set the mood with the right running soundtrack. Another way to fight boredom is to challenge yourself to a new time or distance goal. And if you’ve gotta train anyway, it never hurts to find races that include great crowd support, fun costumes, a party atmosphere and tasty post-race snacks and drinks. On Saturday, walkers and runners can find all of the above at the Beat Beethoven 4-mile run/walk. The event is part of the Taste of the Arts Festival and all proceeds benefit Arts United. The scenic course begins on the Arts United Campus, continues through Headwaters Park, across the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge and along the Rivergreenway, and ends to fanfare in Freimann Square. During the race, runners will be challenged to “beat Beethoven” by finishing the race in 36 minutes – roughly the time it takes to play Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony at a relaxed pace. At half-mile increments along the course, string musicians from the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Strings and Paul Harding Junior High School will perform the symphony for passing runners. A costumed Beethoven mascot will keep spirits high and set the pace by running the course at the requisite speed. The race is the brainchild of several local runners, including Carmen Tse, an Arts United board member and runner. Tse was inspired to bring the idea to the Taste of the Arts committee after seeing a similar event in Michigan. “Back in May of 2015, an article in Runner’s World titled “Races offer a Chance to ‘Beat Beethoven’ caught my attention,” she says. “It was a race put on by the Grand Rapids Ballet as a clever promotion of one of their productions. As a runner who appreciates classical music, I thought it was a brilliant idea to marry arts and fitness into one event. Though it’s not a new idea, it has never been done in Fort Wayne.” The race is a fitting fundraiser for Arts United, a nonprofit that provides support to local arts organizations like ARCH, Artlink Contemporary Gallery, Fort Wayne Ballet, Fort Wayne Dance Collective, Cinema Center, Civic Theatre, Historical Society, Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, FAME, the YouTheatre and Voices of Unity. Even the event sponsorship has a creative, tongue-in-cheek Beethoven theme. “We are excited to be partnering with HearCare Connection, an organization that provides hearing healthcare to under-served and under-insured men, women and children in Northeast Indiana,” says Tse. “One of the most surprising facts about Ludwig van Beethoven is that he was deaf. Instead of allowing deafness to overwhelm him, he began...

Looking for fun things to do in Fort Wayne? Look no further! LFW compiles a list of ongoings and events that we’re excited about every week! This is by no means an exhaustive list, and if you don’t quite see what you’re looking for, check out our events calendar. If you’d like to see your event featured in the Weekly Fun File, or added to our events calendar, let us know! Email us at info@livingfortwayne.com or you can go ahead and submit your event to our calendar! Click on the event for more information about times, locations, cost, etc. 1. The B-Side Presents: Slow Dakota Thursday, July 28 from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. It’s The B-Side’s first film screening, and Slow Dakota’s first concert in Fort Wayne! Tickets are $8, there will be a cash bar by Birdboy Brewing Co., and it should be a really great night! 2. Setting Sun Ladies Run Thursday, July 28 at 8:30 p.m. It’s a 4-mile run down the Rivergreenway, food, drinks, and a raffle, brought to you by NeighborLink Fort Wayne and Three Rivers Running Company. Check in begins at 7:45 p.m. 3. Fort Wayne Food and Brew Saturday, July 30 from 11 a.m. to Midnight It’s the first annual Fort Wayne Food and Brew! There will be great food from local vendors, drinks, and music. There’s also a kids corner, so this can be a family event! Check it out! 4. Out of a Jam Launch Party Saturday, July 30 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Out of a Jam does great things for women who’ve gone through struggles in their lives. Come to their opening at City Exchange shops to hear more about their mission, and support their wonderful cause! Also, their jam is delicious. 5. Downtown Mural Fundraiser Saturday, July 30 from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fort Wayne Art Collective is hosting a fundraiser to help bring a new public mural downtown! A scavenger hunt and an afterparty featuring great musicians sounds like a fun way to spend a Saturday, right? 6. LFW Film Series — Never Ending Story Saturday, July 30 from 8 p.m. to 11 .m. Come out for this free film and family fun! 7. Harry Potter Release Party Saturday, July 30 from 8 p.m. to Midnight Countdown to Midnight! That’s right, folks! Harry Potter is back! Hang out at Barnes and Noble playing games, wearing costumes, and making friend with other HP lovers while waiting for the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child release! 8. Community Day at Ash Brokerage Saturday, July 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ash Brokerage is opening up to the community so we can see all the beauty that is...

Summer has finally hit the Fort, which means it’s perfect outside for a run! That being said, Living Fort Wayne has assembled a list of runs and walks for this Summer season! What’s also perfect is how many runs and walks we have in Fort Wayne to participate in. Don’t miss out on these opportunities to not only better yourself, but help our community raise money for organizations. Frontier Run’n Fun 5k When: Saturday, June 18th Where: 8001 West Jefferson Blvd. Fort Wayne, IN 46804 Time: 7 pm Cost: $35 A run hosted by Frontier and managed by Fort Wayne Running Company, this event promises a good time running through Southwest Fort Wayne trails. Shirts will be handed out and an after party will be thrown with refreshments and live music. There will also be a 10k course for those who dare to do such a thing. RibFest 5k & Walk When: Saturday, June 18th Where: Headwaters Park Time: 8 am Cost: $20 until June 14th, $25 until June 17th Ribs and running? Sign me up! All participants will receive not only one but TWO FREE passes to this year’s RibFest, a free t-shirt, and other swag to take home after the race. All proceeds will go to the North Side High School Athletics! Quakers Riverway 5k When: Saturday, June 18th Where: Johnny Appleseed Park Time: 6:30 pm Cost: $20 until June 17th, $25 day of race Race for a cause! Awards and prizes will be handed out following the race. There’s even a FREE kids run at 7:30 pm! Also, Weigand Construction will be hosting their 28th Annual Duck Race to benefit SCAN following the run. Not to mention a legendary after party with kids activities and fireworks. All proceeds will go towards SCAN and their mission to educate others on how to Stop Child Abuse and Neglect. Fox Island Sprint Triathlon When: Sunday, June 19th Where: Fox Island County Park Time: 7 am Cost: $50 for USAT members and $65 for non-USAT members This is not for the faint of heart, folks. Triathlon includes a 500m swim, 20k bike, and 5k run with other options for duathlon and aquabike courses. Come trek these trails in this beautiful park and have fun winning the race! The Glo Run When: Friday, June 24th Where: Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Time: 9:35 pm Cost: $29.99 for Early Bird (ends June 8th), Regular $60 Who doesn’t love the ’80s? If you do, join us at the Glo Run! Filled with neon lights and funky ’80s dance music, this is an event I will definitely be signing up for! You...

It’s summer (basically)! Festivals are kicking into gear, as well as quite a bit of outdoor fun around the Fort! Let’s take a look at what’s happening in Fort Wayne this week. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and if you don’t quite see what you’re looking for, check out our events calendar. If you’d like to see your event featured in the Weekly Fun File, or added to our events calendar, let us know! Email us at info@livingfortwayne.com or you can go ahead and submit your event to our calendar! Click on the event for more information about times, locations, cost, etc. 1. K9 Classic Saturday, June 4 at 9 a.m. The best kind of 5K … the kind you can do with your dog! Benefitting the ASPCA. 2. Pre-K Nature Discovery Saturday, June 4 at 10 a.m. Free, fun classes at Moser park for kiddos under 6. Take a Saturday morning and let the kids explore this great big, beautiful world! 3. PBS39 Explorer Day Saturday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free admission, super fun activities, educational games, and a mascot parade! Some food trucks will be stopping by for an overall great time. 4. Beatlefest Saturday, June 4 at 6 p.m. Free show for all ages, featuring multiple bands. 5. Fourth Annual Beard and Mustache Competition Saturday, June 4 at 8 p.m. You guys. Facial hair competition. There will be trophies. There will also be vendors and local bands. All for a great cause! 6. Germanfest June 5 – 12 Beer and Brats and music and fun. 7. Speakeasy Monday, June 6 at 8:30 p.m. The first night of a poetry reading series. Enjoy some beer and art and feel some feels. 8. Crosswalk Mural Installation Monday and Tuesday June 6 and June 7 beginning at 9 a.m. It’s installation time! 9. Get Fit in the Fort Running Group June 6 and 7 RRCA Certified Running Coach and Certified Personal Trainer, Mike Else, will be offering a training group to help people prepare for the Fort4Fitness on October 1, 2016. Join a group and get the motivation you need to hit your goals this fall! Groups kickoff this week. 10. New Haven Canal Days June 7 – 11 Oh, New Haven Canal Days. Food, rides, fun, parades … we love it. Remember, this isn’t all Fort Wayne has to offer. Check out our events calendar, and get out and have some fun this weekend! We can’t wait to see you around our...